Eastern League

This was the season that pitching became an art form for Jay Spurgeon."Last year I got a feel for it," said Spurgeon, a Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander whose season ended last week with a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to Hagerstown in the Single-A South Atlantic League playoffs."

BOWIE -- A committee of one turned out to be all the pitching the Bowie Baysox needed last night.Just when manager Joe Ferguson expected to have to dip deeply into the staff, Kevin Gallaher stepped forward with a marvelous performance that kept the Baysox alive in the Eastern League playoffs.Gallaher, released by the Detroit system in June, shut out Harrisburg on three hits for eight innings and struck out 12 batters as Bowie tied the best-of-five division-title series at two games each with a 3-0 win at Prince George's Stadium.

BaseballDodgers: Activated P Darren Hall from 15-day DL. Transferred 3B Mike Blowers to 60-day DL.Red Sox: Recalled IF Arquimedez Pozo, C Scott Hatteberg and P Joe Hudson from Triple-A Pawtucket. Recalled OF Trot Nixon from Double-A Trenton.Eastern League (Double-A): Named Bill Troubh president.FootballCardinals: Waived TE Oscar McBride. Activated TE Johnny McWilliams, third-round pick.HockeyCanadiens: Signed G Jocelyn Thibault for three years and LW Martin Rucinsky for two.Oilers: Signed G Joaquin Gage.

If the Baltimore Orioles want to make a fit and proper selection as their next general manager, providing they offer sufficient autonomy, then they should remove all doubt and make another pitch for Pat Gillick, who has extraordinary capabilities and a record that can't be refuted or minimized.Gillick is an absolute winner. He has been retired from the Toronto Blue Jays for a year and at age 58 is much too young to put himself voluntarily on the shelf.There are indications that one reason the Orioles haven't filled the position is they still hold hope of getting Gillick and, even now, are pursuing him with diligence.

BOWIE -- Tonight they will conclude a stretch of five regular-season games against each other that mean little in the standings, so the managers are simply trying to tune up their players for their showdown in the Eastern League playoffs.Harrisburg's 6-2 victory over Bowie before 10,868 at Prince George's County Stadium yesterday evened their current meeting at two wins apiece and gave the Senators a 9-8 edge in the season series.But not until tomorrow night will the real firing begin."I hate this, playing the same team so many games in a row," said Baysox manager Pete Mackanin.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Bowie Baysox are one victory away from the Eastern League championship series, but they had to undergo another battle of attrition last night to get there.After playing a scoreless duel with Harrisburg through eight tense innings, the Baysox hit for the cycle in the ninth against Senators closer Alberto Reyes and won, 3-0, before 3,321 fans at RiverSide Park.The victory gave Bowie a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series for the league's Southern Division title with the scene shifting to Prince George's County Stadium tonight.

BOWIE -- Kevin Elster's injury rehabilitation assignment officially came to an end at 10:42 p.m. last night, when he snared a line drive with two outs in the ninth inning.His right shoulder is healthy. His timing at the plate is back. He again is making the plays at shortstop, where he set a major-league record for consecutive errorless games while with the New York Mets.He is ready to leave behind the Albany-Colonie Yankees and the Double-A Eastern League. The majors beckon.Just one problem, of course.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Cesar Devarez's bloop single to center in the second inning scored two runs and led the Bowie Baysox to a 3-1 win over the Albany-Colonie Yankees last night in a Double-A Eastern League game.Left-hander Brian DuBois (1-1) allowed one earned run (a bases-empty home run by Kevin Jordan in the fourth) on six hits in six innings, earning his first win in six starts for the Baysox.Jim Dedrick pitched three perfect innings for his second save.Loser Ron Frazier (0-1) gave up eighth hits (including Devarez's two-run single)

The Canton-Akron Indians have been trouble for a lot of Eastern League pitchers this season, but none more so than Erik Schullstrom.Schullstrom was aiming for some payback last night. Instead, the Eastern League team's batting leader piled on some more indignity, rolling to a 7-4 victory over the Bowie Baysox at Memorial Stadium.The Baysox drew their largest crowd of the season, 9,892, and responded by treating the fans to three home runs, bases-empty shots by Stanton Cameron and Brad Tyler and a two-run blast by Tim Holland.

Last Saturday night, the Reading Phillies honored the franchise's 1953 team that won 101 games during a 154-game schedule, the Eastern League record.Unfortunately for the current Phillies, the team that might surpass that number, the Harrisburg Senators, was in town.In characteristic fashion, Harrisburg routed Reading, 19-4, reviving the idea that this just may be the year the record topples.Do the Double-A Senators -- who have a 51-18 record (.739) after losing last night's game at Memorial Stadium -- have a real shot?

Starting pitching is a topic that worries most Orioles fans, but that might not be a problem too much longer. The Orioles' farm clubs are starting the 2009 season this week, and most of them are loaded with talented starters who could play a role with the big club in the near future. Patience is the key as team officials have repeatedly stated they don't want to rush these pitchers. "We want them to get their feet on the ground and get a solid foundation," said David Stockstill, the team's director of player development.

Despite the presence of several young relievers with potential in the system, a 35-year-old journeyman who pitched for the Bowie Baysox earned the top spot in my list. That's right, I think Julio Manon had the finest statistics in the organization. Manon led the Eastern League with 32 saves and he was one of the main reasons that Bowie made the playoffs for the first time since 1997. He had 80 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA in 63 2/3 innings. That doesn't mean Manon has any potential to help the Orioles in the future.

BOSTON - Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez checked the Double-A box scores yesterday afternoon and got the news that he was hoping to see. Akron's Wes Hodges didn't drive in any runs, leaving him with 97 RBIs. Erie's Ryan Roberson didn't have any home runs, leaving him with 25 for the season. That combination allowed Montanez to clinch the Eastern League Triple Crown despite not having played for the Bowie Baysox since Aug. 4. Montanez became just the fifth Triple Crown winner in Eastern League history and the first since 1976, when Danny Thomas did it for the Berkshire Brewers.

What do pitching and real estate have in common? To be successful in each, it mostly depends on the same thing: location, location, location. For Bowie Baysox right-hander David Hernandez, that axiom couldn't be more appropriate. Already equipped with an arsenal that includes a two- and four-seam fastball, slider and a major-league changeup, the 23-year-old has taken his game to another level this season by focusing more on the location of his pitches, beginning with his fastball. "He's shown great command lately," Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin said.

Three members of the Double-A Bowie Baysox have been chosen to participate in this week's Eastern League All-Star Game in Norwich, Conn., including right-hander Radhames Liz, the first pitcher in franchise history to throw a complete-game no-hitter at Prince George's Stadium. Liz, selected by fans to Wednesday night's game, will be joined by outfielder Val Majewski and third baseman Oscar Salazar. One of the top pitching prospects in the Orioles' organization, Liz leads Bowie with 101 strikeouts in 17 games and is 6-4 with a 3.73 ERA, lowest among Baysox starters.

The quiz YOUNG CLOSERS -- The Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon and Orioles' Chris Ray both have a shot to break the major league rookie record for saves in a season. Who holds the mark of 37, set in 2000? Answer below Moves Baseball ASTROS -- Designated OF Preston Wilson for assignment. Recalled P Jason Hirsh from Triple-A Round Rock. CUBS -- Placed P Mark Prior on 15-day DL. INDIANS -- Recalled P Jeremy Guthrie from Triple-A Buffalo. Designated IF Ramon Vazquez for assignment. ORIOLES -- Activated P Kris Benson from 15-day DL. Optioned P Julio Manon to Triple-A Ottawa.

Yesterday Triple-A International League Ottawa 8, Toledo 7 -- The host Lynx (27-28) won as Julio Manon got the save with his third strikeout of the ninth inning while the Mud Hens had the tying run in scoring position. DOUBLE-A EASTERN LEAGUE Bowie at New Britain, ppd., rain SINGLE-A CAROLINA LEAGUE Kinston 7, Frederick 7, susp., lightning -- The Keys and the visiting Indians played to a tie in the bottom of the seventh inning, when lightning and rain stopped play. Nolan Reimold's two-run homer in the sixth tied it. The game will resume today at 5:30 p.m. SINGLE-A SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE Lexington at Hagerstown, ppd., rain Greensboro 12, Delmarva 10, 10 innings -- The Grasshoppers came back from a 10-5 deficit to tie it in the top of the ninth, then went ahead on back-to-back RBI singles in the 10th, beating the Shorebirds (31-21)

Yesterday TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE Ottawa 6, Syracuse 4: Andy Tracy and Alejandro Freire each hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Lynx (18-21) beat the visiting SkyChiefs. DOUBLE-A EASTERN LEAGUE Bowie 4, Harrisburg 2: Carlos Jan got his first win of the season with two strikeouts in his only inning, as the Baysox (20-18) beat the visiting Senators. SINGLE-A CAROLINA LEAGUE Myrtle Beach 2, Frederick 0, Game 1 Frederick 5, Myrtle Beach 2, Game 2: The Keys (17-20) rebounded in the second game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, as starter Luis Ramirez struck out eight Pelicans in the first five innings.

Yesterday TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE Ottawa at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre: The Lynx (16-20) lost a seven-inning game to the host Red Barons despite leading for most of the game and allowing just four hits. DOUBLE-A EASTERN LEAGUE Trenton 4, Bowie 1: Carl Pavano got the win in his rehabilitation start, giving up one run on three hits in six innings against the visiting Baysox (19-16). SINGLE-A CAROLINA LEAGUE Kinston 14, Frederick 3: Keys pitchers gave up 16 hits, including three home runs to the host Indians as Frederick fell to 15-18.

Yesterday Triple-A International League Ottawa 9, Rochester 1: The Lynx (13-14) got 15 hits in a rout of the Red Wings, giving them the series sweep. Double-A Eastern League Akron 4, Bowie 3: Nathan Panther's sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth broke a 3-3 tie. Marino Salas (0-1) took the loss. Single-A Carolina League Wilmington 3, Frederick 2: Visiting Wilmington scored twice in the sixth to go ahead for good. Single-A South Atlantic League Lakewood 5, Delmarva 2 : Brandon Erbe's control problems allowed the host Blueclaws (11-15)